Sporting Life
FA Cup best bets

FA Cup third round predictions, tips, best bets and previews

By Sporting Life
Football
Sun January 08, 2023 · 2y ago

The FA Cup third round sees Premier League teams enter the fray this weekend, and Sporting Life's tipsters picks out several best bets from selected matches.

Football betting tips: FA Cup

1.5pts Manchester City to win with -1 goal handicap v Chelsea at 11/10 (General)

0.5pts Carl Piergianni to score anytime in Aston Villa v Stevenage at 22/1 (SBK)

  • Selected tips only - read full match previews for all selections

Sky Bet odds | Paddy Power | Betfair Sportsbook

Aston Villa v Stevenage

Read James Cantrill's (@JimmythePunt) full preview here

No doubt Stevenage boss Steve Evans will deploy a low block here, probably in a 5-3-2 formation, and look to contain and counter - in fact, they may not even counter, just try and play for set-pieces, the ultimate leveller.

His team, as with most Evans sides, are very effective from dead-ball situations. They rank second in Sky Bet League Two for set-piece shots generated (109) and third for xG (7.54), scoring eight times.

Given his recent form, CARL PIERGIANNI looks worth a punt to SCORE ANYTIME.

The central defender has scored four goals this campaign, three coming in his last two appearances.

Piergianni has only failed to register a shot in five of his 23 league starts, having 40 attempts in total.

Score prediction: Aston Villa 0-1 Stevenage (Sky Bet odds: 33/1)

Odds correct at 1500 GMT (06/01/23)

Manchester City v Chelsea

Read Liam Kelly's (@LiamKellyTAA) full preview here

Although teams are likely to be somewhat rotated for this marquee FA Cup third round match-up, clues can be taken from City's 1-0 victory on Thursday (xG: CHE 0.65 - 1.75 MCI).

Firstly, Chelsea's already extensive injury list is longer after multiple players were withdrawn before and during the Stamford Bridge fixture, leaving them a little thin heading into this game.

Secondly, despite a rather underwhelming first half, Manchester City were by far the better side for much of the game, showing spells of usual dominance in the narrow win.

Substitutions undoubtedly made a difference, a show of strength from a squad full of depth. With that in mind on the short turnaround, MANCHESTER CITY TO WIN WITH -1 GOAL HANDICAP makes appeal.

Score prediction: Manchester City 3-1 Chelsea (Sky Bet odds: 10/1)

Odds correct at 1515 GMT (06/01/23)

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